These workouts are not the same as true offseason team workouts, of course. For one, there’s no coaching guidance. For two, it’s not Drew Brees and the Saints working out…it’s Drew Brees and A FEW Saints. These are more player-organized positional workouts than player-organized team workouts. But, boutique offseason programs are better than nothing.

The fact that Brees is organizing workouts indicates that the NFLPA is OK with players setting up their own OPA’s (Organized Player Activities – you like it?).

Jim Corbett of USA Today asked people around the league about offseason preparations in the event of a lockout. He shrewdly went to former Redskins GM Charley Casserly, who observed firsthand how organizations get ahead during a work stoppage. The Redskins, after all, won titles after the strike-shortened ’82 season and the three-week replacement players ordeal in the ’87 season.

"A number of teams have already employed the Redskins strategy before this started," Casserly said. "They had team meetings, gave outlines to players, discussed strategy for workouts."

Posted by Andy BenoitThe comeback story of Michael Vick continues. Sean Leahy of USA Today writes that the Eagles quarterback has landed a deal with Luttle Licensing Group, which makes Core Synergy’s silicone wristbands. Silicone wristbands are like the yellow “Live Strong wristbands (you maybe knew that or could have figured that…but just in case you weren’t sure, that’s one less Google search you have to do today).

This is Vick’s second endorsement since his release from prison nearly 18 months ago (his first deal came earlier this year with Unequal Technologies, which made the pads he wore during the season).

Weeks after bailing on the show, Michael Vick finally spoke publicly about Oprah Winfrey. The Eagles quarterback was scheduled to appear on the iconic talk show last month but backed out in the 11th hour.

"I just thought the timing wasn't right, based on everything that was going on with the contract, the CBA and certain things that I didn't want to touch on at the time," Vick told the Associated Press. "I felt like I needed to do more in order to be on the show to talk about the past and to talk about the present and how prosperous things are and how bad they were and how we can move forward. I think when I do go on, it's going to be outstanding."

Smart move by Vick to put it all on himself here. The obvious reality is, he realize there was no benefit for him to go on the show and be confronted once again with his dogfighting past. But instead of saying that, he’s instead said he first needs to “do more”. That’s not true, of course. Vick’s already gotten out of prison, regained his stardom and turned in the best season of his NFL career. But from a tact standpoint…well played.

There was a little bit of controversy earlier today surrounding Eagles QB Michael Vick when he – it appeared for the third time in the past few weeks – failed to show for an interview/appearance.

Apparently, he told ESPN’s First Take that he would submit to an interview, but the conversation never happened, and it appeared that Vick was ducking the media, especially when host Dana Jacobson said on-air that the Eagles had pulled Vick from the interview.

But that’s not what happened. Instead, he was at the Maxwell Awards in Atlantic City, and though the officials there had booked Vick for the interview, neither he nor the Eagles knew about it, writes the Philadelphia Inquirer.

So, everybody got riled up for something that wasn’t Vick’s fault at all.

Anyway, Vick also made a few other interesting observations to the newspaper.

Here’s one quote on Oprah:

“I will definitely go on Oprah’s show. At some point I just thought the timing wasn’t right based on everything that was going on – the contract, the CBA. There were certain things that I really didn’t want to touch on at the time. I feel like I need to do more in order to be on those shows so I can talk about the past and talk about the present and how prosperous things are, how bad they were and how we can move forward.”

And one about a potential long-term contract:

"We haven't talked about long-term negotiations or my future. We just talked about what can get done this year. I think that anything else that happns is solely on me. I think I dictate that situation based on my play and performance and my actions on and off the field. So that ball is in my court.”

Considering his base salary last season was $5.25 million, that’s quite a hefty raise.

Which doesn’t excite only Vick. It also must really, really excite Vick’s creditors from his federal bankruptcy case. As the Atlanta Journal Constitution points out, Vick reportedly still owes about $20 million from his 2008 case, and a good deal of his tender will funnel out of Vick’s bank account to those he owes money.

For instance, Vick made $6.8 million the past two seasons in Philadelphia. But he was allowed only to keep $300,000 of that.

Based on that percentage – though I don’t have any idea if what he’ll take home next year is even based on a percentage – Vick would get to keep $704,000 of $16 million and $880,000 of $20 million. Not too shabby, I suppose. But yeah, I’d rather have the full amount.

Vick's decision to do so makes him the seventh player to sign his franchise tag since teams started applying them, and it also means he'll make more than $16 million in 2011, the average of the top five quarterback salaries in the NFL.

It also gives hims a substantial raise from the %5.25 million base salary he made in 2010, and is another step in a stunning comeback from bankruptcy and jail.

Vick's goal is obviously to secure a long-term deal -- it's believed that the Eagles are interested in that as well, especially considering the possibility that the franchise tag won't even exist once a new CBA is reached.

Another reason the Eagles may be eager to lock up Vick is the possibility of Kevin Kolb being dealt -- his stock's through the roof, and if there's a CBA before the draft in April, it's entirely likely that he could fetch a first round draft pick.

That would likely necessitate the Eagles giving Vick a longer deal. But either way, he's being

Some of the other folks that did make the trip include a senator, an NBA star, a command sergeant major, a wealth advisor and a Nike vice president of sports marketing. So, yeah, no shortage of power players and Vick was the one guy who didn't show.

Fox reports that there are -- as always -- two sides to the story. Vick's people say he "canceled last week because of a personal conflict" and the other side seems to believe he was a "disappointing no-show."

If there's that much difference in the stories, Vick missing isn't good news, regardless of what his excuse is. However, there's probably not as much connection as Fox suggests between his decision to cancel on Oprah Winfrey and bailing on a charity event -- the latter benefits kids. The former is just a PR move.

But the fact still remains that if this were nearly any other athlete, it wouldn't be as big a story. They'd get the leeway based on their track record.

Vick doesn't, and he should know that before he skips out on any more charity events centered around Philadelphia's youth.

After interviewing GMs and coaches at this week's NFL scouting combine, I'd be surprised if the Philadelphia Eagles don't wind up trading quarterback Kevin Kolb. There just seems to be too much interest in the guy -- and too many teams willing to bid on him -- for the Eagles not to consider a move.

The Eagles haven't said that Kolb is for sale, but they haven't said he isn't, either. Coach Andy Reid is a staunch supporter of Kolb and wants to keep him -- as he should. Kolb is young, he is proven and he is under contract for another season. Plus, he backs up Michael Vick, whose wide-open style of play makes him a virtual certainty to be hurt next season ... or any season.

But the Eagles may be offered a deal they can't refuse. They're in a position not unlike the one they had last year with Donovan McNabb ... except that Kolb has a future. McNabb had a year left on his contract, too, and the Eagles had to decide to keep him one season or get what they could for him when they could.

The situation is similar, except Philadelphia isn't shopping Kolb. According to people at this week's combine, clubs are calling the Eagles and are eager to make a deal. And you can see why. This year's draft class isn't strong at quarterback, with no clear No. 1. Plus, it falls off sharply after Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton, and there's no certainty that either of those guys can make it. So that makes Kolb that much more attractive. He has started, he has won and he's 26.

The question, of course, is what it will take to get him. The Eagles years ago shipped backup A.J. Feeley to Miami for a second-round draft pick, but Kolb isn't A.J. Feeley. He's much better and more desirable. They traded McNabb last spring for second and fifth-round draft choices, but Kolb's best years are ahead of him where McNabb's were not.

So now the question: What will Kolb command?

"I guarantee you it will be high," said one coach. "The Eagles always shoot high."

That means a first-rounder and something else, probably another high draft pick, and while that exceeds what Houston quarterback Matt Schaub commanded when the Falcons traded him -- for a flip of first-rounders and two No. 2s -- apparently it hasn't dismayed suitors. Several clubs said they heard there's a bidding war on for Kolb, with clubs desperate to fill the most important position. You can figure that Arizona, San Francisco and Minnesota probably are involved, with all desperate to fill quarterback openings , but they're not saying, and neither are the Eagles.

All I know is how Philadelphia operates, which is to set the bar high and deal only if they get what they want. A year ago the club went to the NFL scouting combine with Michael Vick available for the right price, which was a second-round pick. But it didn't budge because there was little or no interest. Vick hadn't played in two years and barely played in a third, with teams concerned he might never be the quarterback he was with Atlanta. So they backed off, and the Eagles kept him.

But league sources seem to believe Philadelphia can and will get what it demands for Kolb, partly because he is proven, partly because he has a future and mostly because he's better than what's available in the draft.

Of course, if and when there's a lockout next week, there can be no trades. Deals would be put on hold until a settlement is reached, and there's no indication a settlement is near. That could complicate or sabotage a trade if a work stoppage goes beyond the April 28-30 draft, with teams no longer able to offer picks in return.

This was cross-posted from Clark Judge's Punt, Pass and Judge Blog. For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.